Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
Website: martinwhitfieldmsp.com
X (previously known as Twitter): @_MWhitfield
Facebook: Martin's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5827
Text relay calls welcome.
Substitute Member
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Further to the answers that the cabinet secretary has already given, which I am grateful for, would not national guidance on the definition of “appropriate” in section 27 of the 1995 act resolve some of the challenges, because, in essence, there is a postcode lottery as to what “appropriate” means?"
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I will speak on behalf of Scottish Labour to various elements of the LCM. I compliment both committees that were involved in this matter—I appreciate the challenge in being able to scrutinise legislative consent memorandums…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is always a pleasure to follow Stephen Kerr, even when his oration—we might call it a salad of linguistic excitement—on the bill that is ploughing its way through the Westminster houses might lead to both entertainment and concern…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "This has been a fascinating debate on the legislative consent motion because, in quite amicable terms, it has highlighted one of the challenges that this Parliament and the Scottish Government have faced regarding legislative consent motions…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the minister, the committee and its convener, Clare Haughey, for their contributions to the debate…
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Result 64 for, 1 against, 53 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 91 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP abstained
Agreed
Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions Martin Whitfield has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:27 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its current investment in youth work is sufficient, in light of reports of an increase in youth violence and the loss of local youth services in recent years."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it has responded to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD’s) reported findings on the importance of staff qualifications and working conditions in delivering high-quality early years provision."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many Care Inspectorate reports since 2018 have cited (a) staffing qualifications and (b) workforce challenges as a key factor in quality ratings."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to reform or modernise the role of (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Skills Development Scotland, (c) the Scottish Social Services Council and (d) other national agencies involved in early learning and childcare workforce planning."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the early learning and childcare workforce currently holds an SCQF Level 9 qualification or above, and how this compares with the proportion in 2017."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many hours of funded continuous professional development have been accessed by early learning and childcare staff in each of the last three years."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish updated metrics on early learning and childcare workforce development, including qualifications, turnover and access to training."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) logistical support is currently available to practitioners seeking to upskill through formal early learning and childcare qualifications."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many practitioners have exited the early learning and childcare sector in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) qualification level and (b) local authority area."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged:22 May 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what targeted measures it is taking to reduce staff turnover in early years settings in (a) general and (b) areas with persistent recruitment difficulties."
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament